Loren Busch wrote:
> The much cheaper ratcheting crimper from Harbor Freight , in side by side
> comparison, is identical to the more expensive crimper from Snapon or
> others....

I checked at Harbor Freight's site and they only have the ratcheting
crimper for insulated terminals.  Not the double stepped mandrel types
for crimping "Open Barrel" connectors.  The open barrel connectors have
two sets of tangs which are open (the wire is laid into them not
inserted into them).  One set of tangs folds into and grabs the wire and
the other set of tangs folds into and grabs the insulation for strain
relief.  The end result is "Exactly" what was done at the VW plant.

Mike